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Romeo And Juliet Celestial Imagery Analysis

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William Shakespeare consistently uses language that displays celestial imagery in order to explore enduring themes such as love, loss, destiny and vengeance throughout his classic play Romeo and Juliet. The uses of imagery that Romeo uses bequeath not only the idea of fate, but meaningful symbols and metaphors to successfully convey the despair that the lover’s face in a way that we ourselves can feel their lust as well as their anguish. Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses imagery to portray the adoration and love Romeo has for Juliet using language to compare her to all that illuminates. Here Romeo professes, Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, Having some business, do entreat her eyes To twinkle in their spheres till they return. …show more content…

The use of light is in essence a synonym of her beauty. Shakespeare’s decision to use celestial imagery within Romeo’s dialogues is genius as it is able to pass off meaningful symbolism in a way that is not only clear but salient to the text itself. Romeo’s monologue before Juliet’s window, allows us to visualize Juliet’s beauty as Romeo metaphorically compares her to the rising sun. But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. (2.2.4-5) This is one of the best examples of the use of light and dark imagery, as Shakespeare creates a visual picture to compare Juliet’s beauty to the light of the sun, but it also symbolizes the lover’s plight to remain together. Though they love each other so deeply, Juliet is the sun while Romeo is the moon; their fate enables them to be together briefly just as the celestial objects are only to meet at dawn and dusk successfully portraying their love. Romeo continues the inference of Juliet’s eyes to that of the light and beauty of the brightest of stars, when he states, "Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, Having some business, do entreat her eyes To twinkle in their spheres till they

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Just looking at Juliet made Romeo say that “it is the east and Juliet is the sun” (2.2.3). Before meeting Juliet, Romeo thought he loved a girl named Rosalinda. Only at the thought of Juliet, Romeo became soft and romantic, describing her as shining and bright. Juliet brought out his romantic side that was in him the whole time. Romeo would hide in Juliet’s bushes and yell out “Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon” (2.2.4).

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This dramatic irony could connote how juliet knows that their love will end in tragedy but she is willing for that to happen if it means she can be with Romeo forever. However, this quotation could also suggest that juliet wants the “ancient grudge” to be over as she wants people to “pay no worship to the garish sun”. This could suggest that just like night is important to the couple as it is a place where they can be together and Romeo can “leap to these arms”, Juliet wants the hatred to vanish so that the couple can be together in the free and not in secret because their love is true and unwavering. However, in this scene, the darkness is seen as, almost ironically, something Juliet is eagerly waiting for. The darkness is almost like a safe haven for the couple as “ if love be

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